I have this half completed mod just kinda sitting around my apartment right now. Done dremeling the window, blow hole, and clearing out the back fan holes. I've painted the interior chassis a metallic dark blue (Ford Wedgewood Blue) and I've even done a bit of wet sanding on the outside of the case. Sounds good, eh? Yeah, looks pretty nice too. Cept it's got a layer of dust on it now. It's just kinda sitting in my second bedroom holding up some books and every once in a while the cat decides the steel case is a nice and cool change from the hot sun in the window. I seem to have lost all motivation to complete this mod right now. I'm kinda pissed about it too. I think it has something to do with the fact that the apt complex I live in has these crap-ass patio areas outside each apartment and they get really pissed if we do anything in them besides sit, smoke cigs, or grill food. SO no go on the painting. Plus, I live in Florida and it's always windy here and we have lots of pine trees that like to drop pine needles on wet paint and clean and freshly waxed/polished cars. Also, we have lots and lots of bugs, and an almost unlimited number of species of them. And whenever I decide to plaster the patio with newspaper to get some painting done, it freakin rains. And it's so hot here, the humidity after it rains stays in the 90% range for about a week straight, at which time it rains again. I hate this damn town, but what can I do? I have no garage, can't paint inside, and know no one with a body shop I can utilize to do some painting. Ugh. I hate not being motivated. But the less motivated I am, the more difficult it is to become motivated and it just continues to spiral downward until the crap gets thrown in the closet or gets sold in a garage sale. Err... Patio sale. Sorry, this was just a simple rant but I needed to get that out.
just start things. doesnt matter what. dremel them until their mechanical brains come out. takes away stress. and on the topic of the mod, what was the original plan? and painting the inside of the case, now thats something i just might have to do. *ponders*
heh. the panhandle sucks. you sir, live on the most boring stretch of highway that i have had the displeasure to drive repeatedly. (used to make weekend trips from o-town to bay county every other weekend.) blech.
Get in your mind that you want to kick your mod's arse. Really badly. "I AM GOING TO MOD YOU TO DEATH! AND YOUR GOING TO LIKE IT DAMMINT! ROARRR!!! *foams at mouth*" Works for me in just about everything. "I am gonna kick your arse truck! Yea, thats right DIE TRUCK!"
you shouldn't worry too much about what your neighbours think - as long as you don't do any damage it doesn't matter. You could always try and find a body-shop and meet the people who work there - they might be interested in your project - you could even get some work from them! you could also start work on a new box which doesn't need painting...
No its not the neighbors, I imagine the apartment owners wont like you painting on their balcony. Try setting up a tarp over the balcony. That way its protected from MOST of the elements. You should be able to do that, as long as its not a permanent setup. Explain to your landlord that you only need it up for 2 days at max, then newspaper and tape all that thing down. Also, set up a fan that blows from your apartment onto the balcony. Worst comes to worst you'll have to sand down that case b/c of dust. That way, you have some cool air blowing on you while painting. Just do it man. I was in your same situation. I made a temporary case out of a cardboard box for my PC to sit in while I modded the case and I ended up using the case for a long time. Eventually I HAD to mod the case b/c the cardboard one got wet (g/f left a wet towel on it ). Anyways, force yourself to do it, and don't rush it. That's the mistake I made, I rushed through painting and I ended up with a shitty mod. Now I have to start all over.
Well, hopefully I'm done dremeling this case. I have a thread here that kind of chronicles where I am right now; minus, of course, the part when I painted the chassis blue. I haven't taken any pics of that yet even though it's been done for like 2 months now. Click here for my thread
well from what i saw this was a very promising modd i for one would love to see it finished....try starting with some small detaills like takein a file to the edges of yer cuts and clean them up a bit by the time yer finished doing that and see the beutiful results the modding spirt will overtake you agin BTW i actaully like yer window layout it one of the more original and asteticly pleaseing ones ive seen in a while and i cant say that ive seen many cerative window modds that really look "right" to me in a long while
Actually, a lot of the filing is done now. All I need to do it cut the front 92mm hole and drill a couple holes and file it up (sorta, it's gonna get covered up by the front plastic piece) and the repaint it a bit to touch up. I'm not too worried about the qualty of the paint job in the interior as it's on the inside and not the focal point so much. The outside is prolly gonna end up as a mirrored black, or if i can find it, charcoal or really dark grey. Damn I need to work on it this weekend and take some new pics of it. Maybe I will. It will be cool for a change and sunny... And I'm not travelling, for once, so I have all weekend to do it. I could use some of our wonderful Florida sun before it's too late and I have to spend ALL winter a nice pasty shade of white.
Hey bro, I used to live in Tallahassee until this past January. Which apartment complex you in? I hear you about the pine needles and humidity. You should see how people react to rain here in SoCal, it's hilarious. Half an inch of rain and they have Weather Alerts and people sliding off the freeway because they don't know how to slow down. Anyway, you know anyone at TCC or FSU? The Art Dept's (for example) there would have a place to work if you could get in with a friend. Probably tons of other places, too, been awhile since I was there... Good luck with everything, eat some frickin' Guthries for me. I miss that place. Box, no slaw, extra fries.
Box, no slaw, extra fries, extra sauce, sweet tea. I love Guthries. I used to live right across the street in Royal Villiage but I have since graduated and gotten married and now live over off of Apalachee Parkway next to the Target just past the Governor's Square Mall. It's looking like its gonna get kinda cool here this weekend, as well as be nice and sunny. SO I think I might just get the lead out and dremel my final little bit on the chassis (92mm hole in front for fan) and touchup the paint on the chassis while I'm at it. I might even get some wet sanding on the panels and possibly even get one or more of them primed. I kinda don't care anymore how much of a mess I'll make. I hate the management here. The leasing woman is a redneck with redneck values (hate's anyone but people like herself) and she's lazy as all hell. ANyways. I was gonna do something else this weekednd on my car, but the guy who was gonna help me has been entered in a charity golf tourney by his mom and he can't get out of it, so I might as well get off my ass and do something.
I live in Tallahassee just down off Hwy 20 past capital circle and I'd have to say there really is no good time arround here to paint anything .. just a week ago it was like 80 out and now its arround 60 and its always humid so the paint never dries right. I would just take it to a paint shop if you want a good looking paint job, its just a matter of finding a reasonable price in this town. I've lived arround here since 4th grade and noticed that people in this town love to charge you out the A$$ for services. And all because there are 3 colleges in the middle of town that are full of suckers that get free money from school. (FSU, TCC, FAMU) BTW I don't know if you have painted your case yet but if you haven't I would try eppes for good quality paint there on N. monroe across from the tallahassee mall on allen Rd. behind an eyeglass place. I also think there is one on the Pky. closer to you somewhere past target.
Seems that your only problem is about painting your case and that's frustrating you. Don't get frustrated, mods take money and time, so don't hurry. I know how you feel, here it's windy and when I painted I ALWAYS got some bug on the paint. Take everything apart and take it to a body shop and make them paint it for you, you won't be less modder for doing that.
Actually, I think I may have discovered the problem. It's nothing that I can do anything about right now, but it's a start, I think. I think its that I have nowhere decent (i.e. -- a garage, workshop, etc.) to truly do the work that I wish to be able to do. So, as of right now, until I find somewhere to work on this stuff, it may just sit around for a while. I did, however, get out to Radio SHack this weekend and buy a nibbler so that I can at least stealth my drives. It's really crappy having a beautiful case like this (it's the KingWin KT-424): and having freakin' ugly beige drive bezels sticking out of it. I'm tired of looking at this ugliness and as soon as the blister on my hand from the nibbler heals, I'll finish stealthing these things. Oh yeah, I also found out that for XMas I'm getting a new DVD burner, an NVidia 6800 STD, a new Aspire 550W PSU, a Zalman 7000B HSF, Half Life 2, and Unreal Tournament 2004. Damn. I'm making out like a bandit this year. It's good when your new wifes parents make great money and they like you, eh?
Yea get yourself a workshop. Even if its in the corner of your room. Thats how i started. I started gathering tools after a while. Then I got a tool box to put them in. Then i started getting more and more that I built myself a workshop in the garage to work and to hold my tools. Even if you dont have a garage build yourself a work bench to hold your tools and to work. It can be in the corner of your room. Just make sure to protect the stuff you dont want metal dust on. If you have a spare bedroom that you can use as a workshop it would be better. This way you seperate your mod working time from other distractions.
Yeah, the only problem with that is that me and my wife live in a one bedroom apt right now and she hates all the damn noise the dremel makes. ANd we all know that if the wife's not happy, no one is happy. The workshop will come eventually though. Gotta be patient... That's what I keep telling myself.
